Profile Text
Sambora in 2012, photo by DFree /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Ava Elizabeth Sambora
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Date of Birth: October 4, 1997
Ethnicity: * father – Polish * mother – English, German, Scottish, remote Swiss-German and Cornish, possibly distant Lumbee Tribe
Ava Sambora is an American model and actress.
She is the daughter of musician, rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter Richie Sambora and actress Heather Locklear .
Ava’s mother has stated “I am part Lumbee – way, way back on my father’s side.” The Lumbee are a Native American tribe. It is not clear if Ava’s Lumbee ancestry has been verified/documented. Ava’s most recent ancestors are all listed as “White” on U.S. Censuses. Through her maternal grandfather, Ava is the great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Duncan Locklear/Locklair and Nancy Quick, of South Carolina. These ancestors were, at least publicly, caucasian. It appears that the line has not been traced further than Duncan Locklear.
Ava’s paternal grandfather was Adam Sambora (the son of Joannes/Jan/John Baptist Sambora and Anna Klucek). Adam was born in New Jersey. Joannes was Polish, and was likely from Jodłowa. He was the son of Adamus/Adam Sambora and Marcianna/Marciana Kita. Anna was also Polish.
Ava’s paternal grandmother was named Joan Sienila (the daughter of Alexander Sienila and Stella). Joan was born in New Jersey. Alexander was a Polish immigrant. Stella was born in New Jersey, and was almost certainly also of Polish ancestry.
Ava’s maternal grandfather was William Robert Locklear (the son of Harper Hamilton Locklear and Esther Mary Mae Wolsifer). William was born in Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana. Harper was born in Kentucky, or Rome, Floyd, Georgia, the son of William Jesse Locklear and Martha/Mattie/Madeline Walena Hatfield. Ava’s great-grandmother Esther was born in Indianapolis. Her father, William George Wolsiffer, had a father from Boerrstadt, Platz, Bavaria, Germany, and maternal grandparents who were also German, from Rhineland-Palatinate, and Baden-Württemberg, respectively. Esther’s mother, Ava’s great-great-grandmother, was Mollie H. Wilson.
Ava’s maternal grandmother was Diane Meredyth Tinsley (the daughter of Kenneth Lyle Dale Tinsley and Ruth Bernell Roberts). Diane was born in Santa Barbara, California. Kenneth was born in Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, the son of Jesse/Jessie William Tinsley and Hattie Belle Black. Ava’s great-grandmother Ruth was born in Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois, the daughter of Morris Robert Roberts, Jr., whose parents were English, from Worcestershire; and of Maria/Mary Caroline “Mayme” Hary, whose father was German, from Bawien, Gerdauen, East Prussia; and whose maternal grandparents were also German, from Baden.
Sources: Genealogy of Ava Sambora – https://www.geni.com
Ava’s paternal grandfather, Adam Sambora, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Baptismal record of Ava’s paternal great-grandfather, Joannes/Jan/John Baptist Sambora – https://familysearch.org
Immigration record of Ava’s paternal great-grandfather, Joannes/Jan/John Baptist Sambora – https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org
Ava’s paternal great-grandfather, Joannes/Jan/John Baptist Sambora, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Baptismal record of likely Ava’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Adamus/Adam Sambora – https://familysearch.org
Baptismal record of likely Ava’s paternal great-great-grandmother, Marcianna/Marciana Kita – https://familysearch.org
Ava’s paternal grandmother, Joan Sienila, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Genealogies of Ava Sambora (focusing on her mother’s side) – http://www.genealogy.com https://www.wikitree.com
Ava’s maternal grandfather, William Robert Locklear, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Ava’s maternal great-great-great-great-grandparents, William Jesse Locklear and Mary “Polly” Turner, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
PBS Frontline statement that Ava’s mother likely has some Lumbee ancestry, citing no particular source – http://www.pbs.org
Ava’s maternal great-grandfather, Kenneth Lyle Dale Tinsley, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org